Motorists could be unnecessarily forking out for taxes that don’t actually apply to them, one expert has cautioned. If your car is sitting idle and stored on private property, such as a driveway, you might be eligible for a road tax exemption.
Richard Dornan, Motoring Expert at AChoice, highlighted that numerous drivers may be unnecessarily paying road tax because they’re unaware of a lesser-known DVLA exemption.
This is called Statutory Off Road Notification.
There are various reasons why someone might leave their car parked in a driveway or garage completely unused for extended periods.
For instance, if they’re studying at university elsewhere, travelling abroad or temporarily unable to drive, reports Devon Live.
Nevertheless, to slash this tax bill you’ll first need to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN.
The expert clarified: “The DVLA states that any car kept on public roads must be taxed and insured. But if a vehicle is not in use and kept off-road, such as in a garage or on private land, it can be declared SORN.
“This means owners don’t need to pay vehicle tax or insurance while their car remains unused for whatever reason.
However, motorists need to be careful as any vehicle kept on a public road needs to be taxed, even if it’s not being driven.”
You can submit a SORN application online, by telephone or through the post.
If it’s approved, there are still certain circumstances when you can drive the vehicle on a public road such as taking it to and from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment.
If you drive or keep a SORN vehicle on a public road for any other reason you could face fines of up to £2,500.
The expert added: “If a vehicle with a SORN in place is left on a public road, owners face an initial £30 fine, plus twice the amount of any outstanding vehicle tax.
“If this goes unpaid, the case could be taken to a magistrates’ court, where the penalty increases to £1,000 or five times the unpaid tax – whichever is greater. The consequences don’t stop there. If you’re caught using or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road despite having a SORN, the fine can rise to £2,500.”
After declaring a vehicle SORN, you may qualify for a tax refund covering any remaining months you’ve already paid road tax for.
Should you need to use or keep the vehicle on public roads following a SORN declaration, you’ll need to tax it again immediately.
Further details about SORN are available on Gov.uk.
